In September 2019, in a milestone agreement, Namdock concluded a contract to maintain and repair the vessels of the Marinha de Guerra Angolana (MGA), the Angolan Navy.
According to Namdock’s Commercial and Operations Manager, Willie Esterhuyse, although the contract has been concluded, the exact date when the vessels will be arriving in Walvis Bay has not been finalized, it is anticipated that this will be early in 2020.
In terms of this agreement, Namdock will take two Angolan Navy vessels into its dry docks initially. However, there is a possible extension to this contract into 2020 to service the Navy’s other vessels as well as supplying related services and training.
The Angolan Navy was founded in 1976 by the country’s first president Antonio Agostinho Neto. According to wiki.org, the Navy consists of some 40 vessels including fast missile craft, fast torpedo craft, coastal patrol boats and minesweepers. The Angolan news agency Angop reports that efforts are underway to enhance the effectiveness of the Angolan force. Emphasizing the importance of the Angolan Navy, the chief of the General Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces has alluded to international terrorism which he says: ‘poses a serious threat to the Gulf of Guinea’ and neighboring countries such as Angola.
The conclusion of this contract required extensive negotiations which were started in 2017. Representatives of the MGA visited Walvis Bay to inspect Namdock’s facilities, while the Namibian company also dispatched technicians to Luanda to inspect the naval vessels.
Although the Angolan Navy is 42 years old, it is reported that maintenance and repairs have been carried out internally.
The first two vessels will be sailed from Angola and will undergo a turnkey maintenance operation at Walvis Bay, where all services such as dry docking, sandblasting, coating, mechanical, metalwork, valves, piping, engine work, electronics are fully available. As these vessels play a key part in the defense of Angola, Namdock will be bringing all its experience and expertise to bear to effect a rapid turnaround.
The award of this contract follows an eventful year for Namdock marked by the steady increase in yard activity and significant growth in enquiries that have translated into confirmed yard bookings.